DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTERThirty years of Teaching, Learning, Caring for marine mammals and the environment we share.DRC is a nonprofit marine mammal education and research facility located in the heart of the fabulous Florida Keys. Home to a family of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions, DRC offers a variety of educational, fun, exciting programs, and close-up interactions. We hope you enjoy our blog!

Friday, September 27, 2013

It’s natural for dolphins to always find something to play within their environment. Whether they locate a toy from their human friends or foliage on the bottom of the lagoon, there’s always fun to be had. Their individual “dolphinalities” emerge when you allow them to figure out what they find enjoyable.

Gypsi is a little bit of a tomboy. She likes to play with balls and show off her athletic side. However, the other day she showed us her more feminine side. Gypsi found a target pole in her lagoon and decided to carry it around. She looked like a very regal and majestic princess as the pole acted like a scepter tucked under her pectoral flipper. Gypsi swam from one side of the front lagoon to the other showing off her prize to her adoring public.

Suddenly, Gypsi recognized somebody in the crowd and began to swim towards her. She made her way as close as she could to the viewing area by her lagoon. Slowly she maneuvered her target pole to her friend in the crowd, as if to say, “This is for you!” Unfortunately, the woman was not able to reach the gift but she told Gypsi “thank you” for the offer. Gypsi then swam away to play with her friend in the lagoon.

Every once in a while she’d come back, and put the pole under her flipper and swim away, only to return it when she saw her friend by the front again. It was so sweet to see Gypsi give her friend a present that

Do you miss the Florida Keys? Check out this awesome DVD in our online gift shop! One of the most comprehensive DVDs for planning or remembering your Florida Keys trip. Beginning in Key Largo and ending in Key West, this DVD highlights both Keys and all those in-between!

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Today is Coastal Clean Up Day! Every piece of paper, cigarette butt or bottle that makes its way to street sewers ends up in streams or rivers and eventually down to the ocean which has the potential to compromise the health of wild animals as well as humans. Take advantage of one of the most popular volunteer days of the year and head out to the beach and/or inland locations and help remove trash and unnatural debris.

DRC will be holding a coastal clean up on October 3rd at Tom's Harbor Bridge. If you're in the Keys, feel free to join us!

Monday, September 16, 2013

This 16 ounce tumbler will keep your drink hot or cold. Made of high quality acrylic (bpa free). Handwash with warm soapy water. Not suitable for dishwasher, microwave, cooking or freezing. You can choose purple or turquoise. See this item and many more great gifts in our online gift shop!

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Each and every animal that calls Dolphin Research Center
their forever home is showered with an abundance of love. Whether they’re with
us for their entire lifetime or have been brought here for a variety of other
reasons, they are all family members. Each one deserves to be honored in a
unique way. When Reese was born, we wanted to give a tribute to his grandmother,
Theresa, with a name that could carry on the family legacy.

When we tell stories about Theresa, a memory that sticks out
is mangroves. Theresa was known for balancing mangrove pods on her melon. It
was a game that she’d spend hours playing. It seems that this trait is genetic
because Reese does the baby dolphin version.

While his mom, Santini, plays with people in interactive
sessions, Reese explores. Recently, we’ve seen him surf leaves on his head.
Since this is something his grandmother engaged in frequently you can only
imagine our excitement when Reese began emulating her behavior – even though
they never had a chance to meet. Cameras turned to snap a photo so that we
could share it with the staff members at DRC.

Seeing dolphins who once called DRC home reflected in their
children and grandchildren brings warmth to our hearts. Hopefully Reese has
more of his Grandmother Theresa’s dolphinality.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Dolphin Research Center practices a variety of medical behaviors
with the dolphins to reinforce preventative care. One of these behaviors is beaching.
This originally begins as the kids learn to boost themselves up on floating
platforms as a form of play. They use their tail to propel themselves out of
the water onto the dock. The others then take turns pushing them off. We saw
this happen a lot last year when Delta and Flagler moved into a lagoon away
from their moms. Trainers use the opportunity to get them ready for learning to
beach onto a scale on the dock so we can check their weight.

Flagler tries to bring himself up on the dock.

Recently, the front lagoon weighed in. It was interesting to
see the different ways that each of the kids got themselves onto the dock,
posed, and got off. Flagler, Delta, and Louie were able to pull themselves from
just the dock onto the scale. However, they couldn’t lift their tails out of
the water yet. This requires a lot of core strength, but with each attempt they
made a little more progress.

The girls, Luna and Gypsi, had completely different
experiences. Luna, who has a more reserved dolphinality, couldn’t get all the
way on the dock. Her trainers will continue to work with her to make it fun and
exciting. Gypsi, on the other hand, has abs of steel. She’s known for her
backward tail walk and can go all the way across the front lagoon. It’s no
surprise she was able to get on the dock with little struggle, pose, and hop
right back off several times in a row.

Luna works on beaching without using the scale.

With so many youngsters in the lagoon, it’s fun to see how
each of them grows and learns differently. We’re sure that soon enough all of
the kids will be beaching like pros. Until then, it’s fun to encourage them as
they continue to do their best to learn the behavior.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Time spent with the dolphins never gets old. Whether they
leap through the air as though they defy the laws of gravity, or vocalize while
you walk by, it’s always a wonderful feeling. However, there is one big guy
here at Dolphin Research Center that manages to get a lot of attention when he
literally does nothing.

His name is Rainbow and there is more to this loveable guy
than meets the eye. If you’re a guest who has never walked through DRC’s
grounds, and you saw a big dolphin laying with one eye up at the causeway in
the same spot for most of the day, you’d wonder to yourself, “What’s wrong with
him!?” We can assure you absolutely nothing. Rainbow has just mastered the art
of people watching.

This handsome man not only gets people to speak and stare at
him, but because his behavior is questionable, it brings a crowd. It’s not only
new visitors who give him attention but often friendly faces who explain why
this handsome fellow is all by himself in the corner of the lagoon. It makes us
giggle to explain why Rainbow has a “toupee”. He could get sunburned on his
head from staying in that spot most of the day, so we protect him with zinc
oxide as sunscreen.) Or why his eye is closed. (He likes to sleep in that spot.)
It’s an ingenious way to get lots of attention and a great conversation starter
for staff and volunteers to explain dolphin behavior.

As soon as you see Rainbow in action during a session, you
can’t believe that’s the same dolphin. If it wasn’t for the white zinc oxide
you might think we switched out dolphins. With Rainbow, whether it’s time to play
or nap, he always manages to spark your attention.

Monday, September 2, 2013

Check out this awesome new shirt in our giftshop! It's one of the staff favorites. Available in both adult and youth, this Dolphins of the World T-Shirt has 15 images of dolphins found in different parts of the world on the back and the DRC logo on the front.